Cox engine collecting (The Bug!)

ian1954 wrote:This is a petrol TD 049.

..................I had trouble running this and did many experiments with fuel mix. I found, by accident, that it started very easily on just petrol -95 Ron. So I added 5% castor and ran it a little longer. I was a little unhappy that there wasn't enough lubricant but it wasn't happy with 10% castor and so I did 5% castor and 5% two stroke synthetic (motorcycle two stroke).

It started easily but seemed to have lost get up and go. I added a dash of paraffin (kerosene) and it ran quite happily. Still needs more work, I spent about two hours fiddling and after running I checked the plug. It was sooty and not the coffee colour I had hoped for so it was running rich but I wasn't able to lean the mixture any further.

I had run it on a 6 x 3 propeller.

balogh wrote:

I wonder how the 10% lubricant works out in a ringless engine, with regards to compression? I guess gas/petrol engines all have piston rings for a reasonable compression that the often 3% or even less lube oil content in 2-stroke petrol fuel  alone would not be capable of sealing? 10% oil still seams too thin a sealant for a ringles engine.

ian1954 wrote:Cars prior to 1995 in the UK can suffer from the alcohol content in the bio fuels now sold predominately at supermarkets rotting seals and rubber.

GallopingGhostler wrote:

ian1954 wrote:Cars prior to 1995 in the UK can suffer from the alcohol content in the bio fuels now sold predominately at supermarkets rotting seals and rubber.

My 1971 Honda CB100 new petcock needs new rubber seals, surprised me that it went bad in a short while.

TDbandit wrote:None of the bikes even current models like the green gas. My 02 CBR600F4i is currently having seal problems due to the alcohol. Keep an eye on the carbs btw it eats them up too. (Bandit)

GallopingGhostler wrote:

TDbandit wrote:None of the bikes even current models like the green gas. My 02 CBR600F4i is currently having seal problems due to the alcohol. Keep an eye on the carbs btw it eats them up too. (Bandit)

I heard similar too, Bandit. My 2001 Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager tourer's 4 carbs use better floats but had a rough idle when I bought it a little over a year ago with 33k miles on it. (Now it has almost 47k miles on it.) I thought I'd have to rebuild the carbs.

On the forums, they mentioned how the newer fuel with alcohol content and without MBTE gums up the carbs over time. I followed advice, now add Seafoam fuel treatment to the tank every couple months, it makes a huge difference. Now the bike idles smoothly, worth the $13 per can.

Marleysky wrote:wOw, I'm almost speechless. That collection must have taken many years to assemble. My wife is a quilter and collects fabric and designs. She had a sign that reads " She who dies with the most fabric wins! "  she IS trying to win, as are you with a collection like that ( substitute Engines for fabric ) I am impressed and in awe that you can't even store it in one place.....or is that for safety reasons so you won't loose the complete collection in one mishap?

ian1954 wrote:Also petrol has some lubricating properties itself unlike methanol.

Marleysky wrote:wOw, I'm almost speechless. That collection must have taken many years to assemble. My wife is a quilter and collects fabric and designs. She had a sign that reads " She who dies with the most fabric wins! "  she IS trying to win, as are you with a collection like that ( substitute Engines for fabric ) I am impressed and in awe that you can't even store it in one place.....or is that for safety reasons so you won't loose the complete collection in one mishap?

ian1954 wrote:Is it a bug? I think so!

It starts with the simplicity of acquiring a classic vintage engine. Ironically, one of these



A Space Bug but more importantly a Cox Bug! This combined with such an informative forum accelerates the illness/addiction and this is fueled by comments, topics and articles constructed in such a way as to prevent cure!

WARNING! Do not continue reading unless you have developed an immunity, have an appropriate anti serum or have the will power to resist.

You acquire an engine and discover that there are different varieties. You see one that is better than the one you have, you find one that needs a little tender loving care ...................... The addiction begins.........



It gets out of control. It is reinforced by the smell of fuels, castor oil residues, Hoppes No 9, cleaning fluids. It provides excuses to use blow torches and buy tools that you can't live without! To generally make a smell, a mess and a noise.

Another warning - this is often defines as a hobby but it extends beyond the hobby room. You will spend hours on this forum - enter competitions and as "The Bug" bites deeper it will take over the home. You will create undesirable relationships that will encourage and feed the addiction - it will accelerate to the point where you will be unable to resist.

It has taken several weeks to bring my Cox engines together as I don't keep them at home. The engines have not been stored in a logical manner and mixed with other engines. I still haven't brought them all together as I still have more distributed in storage but this exercise has gone a long way to correct that.

I have also to mention that after seeing Jason's pictures of his engines laid out another side effect of "The Bug" took over and I have wanted to do the same. Jason has increased his collection, a fellow sufferer, and I saw a posting encouraging him to lay out a display again (need I say more!). However, this takes hours!

Excuse my photography. I found it difficult to lay the symptoms of my disease out in a picturesque way and so I just sorted them and dumped them. I don't have a table big enough and so I used the settee (also not big enough).

Another warning! If you are using household furniture for this - make sure that it is easy to clean afterwards! After run oils, fuel residues and oils smell nice but "soft" furnishings don't agree with them!

Oldenginerod wrote:Wow Scotty.  You managed to find a really old post here.  Haven't heard from Ian for ages.